Jack of all...

I love mixed media for the opportunity to work with  many different mediums and utilize my 'jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none' approach.  I can incorporate hand sewing, beading, stamping, paper-making, origami and even painting!

Gifts from Gaia started with a magazine photo in a range of blues and greens.  The addition of gel medium (in waves counter to the water flow in the photo), glass beads, paper, metal and feathers speaks to me of the countless ways the planet cares for us.

Gifts from Gaia   4 x 4   Mixed Media by Win Dinn

Joy Rising was done for the sheer pleasure of working with texture and colour.  Using flexible modelling paste applied directly to a canvas support meant I could texture to my heart's content, and then glaze colours in many layers to build up the subtle colour range.

Joy Rising  12 x 12  Mixed Media by Win Dinn

Both of these pieces are currently showing at the Key City Theatre Gallery in Cranbrook, BC until March 19.

Mixing it up...

 I LOVE the mixed media workshops.  They're exciting, filled with energy and creativity, and they make me work like a fiend to stay ahead of the participants!

We started our first day yesterday with one of my favourite mediums, flexible modelling paste.  A thin layer of paste on a matboard, stamping with various texture tools, and we each had a piece drying in no time.  While they dry overnight, they show lovely cracks and crannies, even without colour!

Each of the participants received a law book to use as a palette, and were encouraged to go at them throughout the day.  Here are a couple of the resulting page spreads!

We did 10 different 'starter' layers,

 added many more layers, and embellishments.

I can hardly wait to see what these wild women will do next week!

To journal...

What could be a better use for out-of-date law books than covering them with layers of lovely colour?  That's what I've been doing for the past few years since a retired lawyer brought some books into the gallery for altered book use.

I often use an open book instead of palette paper so the legal jargon becomes covered or part of a new start...

I add some photos or I cover the pages with hand-painted papers and/or poetry,

and then add embellishments ...

These pages serve me in several ways - they're a fine testing ground for techniques I've read or heard about and want to try, they're a way to test designs in a small scale to see whether they 'read' properly, and they fulfil my passion for colour in more ways than I can count.

The book the above photos are from is filled with mouth-watering, colourful and playful pages, in a variety of styles and artistic meanderings.  I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better way to spend some creative time.

Precious time

One of the best things about painting full time is that I actually get time to paint - that's a concept that has been pretty rare in a life filled with children, volunteering, full time employment and/or building a business.  I love having the time to think about the world around me and then translate my thoughts through paint (and whatever collage fodder comes to hand).  So when I heard a child serenely state to a companion that 'Sticks and stones....', this small piece sprung to mind.  From the mouths of babes (and their very intelligent parents, no doubt).

Sticks & Stones  4 x 4  Mixed Media by Win Dinn

This next piece arose from my musings that most of the women I know can see things from many angles.  We have an ability to mentally stand in each degree of a circle and recognize the validity of every viewpoint.  Sometimes, I think this may be to our detriment -  I  wonder whether this keeps us from standing up for things that are important to us?  It made me laugh when I realized upon completion of the piece that it was tough for me to decide which way was up!

Challenging Neutrality  10 x 8  Mixed Media by Win Dinn

Both these pieces, and seven others, will be on display at the Key City Theatre Gallery in Cranbrook, BC, for the next month, so stop in and say hello to them if you're in the area.

More flight...

I just have to post the balance of the Artist Flag pieces!

Andrea's flag has me thinking spring, and what better thought is there?

Andrea Revoy's ceramic flag

 I love the flagpole on Laura's flag!

Watercolour flag by Laura Leeder

Mixed  media flag by Win Dinn
Pennant shape after Joyce Marquess Carey quilt entitled Ribbon

The variety in visions is what jazzes me about this challenge - each artist takes the theme to a different place, and they're all delightful.

Thank you for participating and for flying your flag!

Flying....

No challenge here - we've had a number of artists who couldn't wait to parade their colours!

Love the feather on the'paintbrush' here, and Yolanda's primary colour palette!

Flag by Yolanda Marshall, acrylic and mixed media

Doesn't Alice's flag just make your heart sing?

Flag by Alice Saltiel-Marshall, acrylic

Kari's texture is luscious - spoonable!

Flag by Kari Martin

More flags will be posted within a day or two - and they're just as fun as these!

I have some good news/bad news.  The good news is that the winner of the free pass to the February 25 mixed media workshop (by random draw) is Alice Saltiel-Marshall!  The bad news is that she lives in Alberta, so it would be pretty tough for her to attend a three-Saturday session here in Creston.  Now back to the good news - we've just organized a mixed media workshop in her home town, Claresholm, so she gets to attend it free of charge on May 5 & 6!  How's that for 'no good deed goes unpunished'?  Alice is the organizer of the event, and will be hosting John and I as we spend a spring weekend in Alberta.

Thanks to all of you who've made today's entry so colourful, and those who are yet to parade their flags!

It's so Zen...

I love the net, primarily for the world view from artists' eyes.  Between YouTube, Facebook and the Google search engines, it is possible to find thousands of ways to create, and demos to tell you how.

I've come across a series of videos by Milliande, one of which shows her method of creating a Zen Mandala, or Zendala.  It's been a number of years since I've played with pen and ink, and even more since I've doodled to this degree, but I must admit that, once again, I'm addicted.

Zendala

I have a vision of my skeletonized self, hunched over a desk, fingers gnarled around a Sharpie and cobwebs trailing off in all directions.  Please, someone save me!

A hanging...

I'm heading off this afternoon to work with the Therapeutic Riding Program volunteers  - we're hanging the show in preparation for tomorrow's Silent Auction.  I thought you'd like to see a couple of pieces that will be put in place.  In fact there are over fifty items of original art and limited edition prints, and bidding should be brisk!

Maple Leaf  matted print by Laura Leeder 

Clay horse by Andrea Revoy

You can check out all the pieces in the Creston and District Community Complex Sunshine Room .  With the official opening Friday evening ( 5-7 pm) and the show open from 10 am to 5:00 pm Friday and Saturday, you'll have ample time to place your bids on your favourites.   We look forward to seeing you there!

Just a note that I've received the first submission for the Artist's Flag Challenge - how exciting, and it's a beaut!  I'm looking forward to the rest - please include your place of residence, name and size of painting (width x height), media and any other pertinent info you care to provide when you email your image to windinn@shaw.ca.

Another 'play' date

While I do intend to post more Art Trot pieces this week, I want to put a small plug in for an event that follows that one.  Artists and Dragons is a fund-raiser for the Community of Creston Arts Council and the local ArtWalk, and takes place at the Rotocrest Hall on Saturday, February 18, 2012.

This event includes artists working on their pieces on site, and those works, as well as donated pieces from other local artists, will be raffled as prizes.  I know that some artists are working on dragon-related items - Nora McDowell is busily knitting a dragon scarf these days, and I've heard rumours of other fiery items in the works.  At the event, you can purchase tickets to place on your favourite piece(s), and if your name is drawn for that piece, you can take the dragon's treasure home!

Although not dragon themed, I'm donating an unusual piece that works either as a wall piece or on a table.  Called Playing with Value, it's 5" x 5 " x 3" deep, and five of the six 'sides' are worked in mixed media.

Playing with Value by Win Dinn  5" x 5" x 3" 

Playing with Value  - Bottom

Playing with Value - Left

Playing with Value - Right

Playing with Value - top

The title is a dual 'play' on words since it refers to the artists' concept of value (light through dark), as well as some of the things that I've personally held important in my life.

I encourage you to place Artists & Dragons on your calendar, get your ticket at Black Bear Books or Kingfisher, and make an evening of it!  Time to get out and play....

8 days!

It's just 8 days to the opening of the Art Trot silent auction in support of the Therapeutic Riding Program, and I thought I'd share some of the pieces you'll find there.  Although I don't have artists/names for any of these pieces, you'll find

and many more!  It thrills me to know that we have so many artists and contributors in the area that support our non-profit societies.  I salute you all!

Incidentally, if you're reading this and I've shown your artwork or contribution, please email me at windinn@shaw.ca to let me know - I'd love to add your details to the photo!